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Ok so following on from my earlier Valentine’s Gift Guide for Her, I’m really excited as I have the second instalment of my Valentine’s gift guides ready for you now, and for this one I’m teaming up with one of my all time favourite home accessory and gift stores to bring you a very special post…

Yes it’s Amara Living! If you haven’t heard of Amara, they are a luxury home accessory store offering a fantastic range of wares, enabling you to adorn your home with the most wonderfully decadent decor available. From soft furnishings, to lamps, to desk accessories, they literally have everything you could ever want or need for adding a touch of luxury to your home.

They stock some amazing designer brands including Versace Home, Missoni, Fornasetti, Kate Spade, Lalique and Mulberry Home to name but a few, and I’ve been sent a few gorgeous products from Amara today to share with you – which would make fantastic Valentine’s gifts for a loved one – enjoy!

I have to start with the stunning Fornasetti Silenzio Scented Candle. I’ve been a big fan of Fornasetti ever since I first discovered the brand a few years ago. This is the second candle I own now, and I like to think of this as the beginning of a collection. Fornasetti creates candles, vases, plates, and other accessories, with striking, almost Dali-esque imagery that’s both beautiful and often quite surreal. The Silenzo candle I have here is pretty tame by Fornasetti’s standards and features a winking face on one side, and a ‘shhh’ finger to mouth face on the other. This is easily one of the most beautiful items I now own.

I know you wouldn’t exactly think of a tray as a gift – most of us would think of them as functional items, but this absolutely beautiful Galerie De Portraits Buste Tray really would make a fantastic and unusual gift for someone this Valentine’s day. The imagery actually reminds me of Fornasetti, being both classic yet striking. This would be perfect for displaying perfume bottles and candles on your dressing table.

I also wanted to include the above Kate Spade Notebook Set as the notebooks themselves are rather lovely, as well as being a total bargain. Kate Spade is a fantastic brand for gifting, and these super cute notebooks are now half price at only £7.00 in the Amara sale.

I’ve shared these flowers a couple of times on my social pages now, and each time someone has commented saying how stunning they are. These Cote Noire Lillies & Roses are just so beautiful, including blush pink roses and lilies in an adorned clear glass vase with a striking silver Cote Noir logo. From the outer packaging to the vase and flowers themselves, this really is the height of luxury gifting and would make a fantastic Valentine’s present.

I should also mention that these flowers are fake – in case you weren’t sure. They’ve been skilfully handcrafted, and are of exceptional quality. They also come with two 10ml fragrance spray bottles of Spring Flower & Rose Petal scents, so you can spritz the petals and fragrance your home as and when you like.

And lastly, I have this lovely Umbra Prisma Photo Display – if you haven’t heard of Umbra, they’re another favourite brand of mine, making a large range of home accessories including plenty of rose gold and geometric details, which is right up my street. I’ll be putting one of my wedding pictures in this frame very soon and having it on display in my kitchen – I think it looks great!

So what do you think of my Amara Living gift ideas? I hope you enjoyed my post xxx

Valentine’s day is almost upon us, and this is the first of three gift guides I have for you – the others will be coming up either later today or tomorrow morning. This gift guide is ‘for her’ and I’ve included loads of gorgeous bits and pieces that pretty much anyone would be happy to receive. There’s gift items in here, chocolates, alcohol, makeup and fragrance. I hope you enjoy!

I have to start this guide with one of my favourite recent fragrance launches – Jean Paul Gaultier Classique Intense EDP (£61.00 for 50ml at Boots) – Jean Paul Gaultier’s Classique fragrance really is a ‘classic’ – it was one of my very first, and favourite scents many years ago, and this this brand new intense version is just stunning. It’s very similar to the original, but heavier and more sensual. I know for a fact that fans of the original Classique will love this.

Top Notes: Pomegranate, Tiare Flower.

Heart Notes: Orange Blossom, Jasmine, Rose.

Base Notes: Patchouli, Vanilla.

Another new fragrance which is perfect for Valentine’s day is Agent Provocateur Pure Aphrodisiaque (£51.50 for 40ml at The Fragrance Shop) This is a romantic, floral fruity and musky scent. I was actually expecting something a lot heavier, but this is quite light and flirty, yet still very feminine and seductive. There are a few different gift set options available for this fragrance too which are perfect for Valentine’s day.

Top Notes: Mandarin, Anjou Pear and Rum.

Heart Notes: Jasmine, Wild Orchid and Indian Sambac.

Base Notes: Woods, Skin Musk and Amber Creme.

And lastly for fragrances I have Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely EDT (£11.00 for 30ml at Debenhams) which is a great option for those on a budget. The inspiration behind Sarah Jessica Parker’s first scent ‘Lovely’ was her love of layering scents. What became of this inspiration is a feminine and timeless signature scent for woman of all ages.

Top Notes: Bergamot, Lavender and Apple Martini.

Heart Notes: Patchoile, Paperwhites and Creamy Orchid.

Base Notes: Cedarwood, White amber, Sultry Woods and Musk.

On the subject of good deals, I also wanted to include the Skinchemists Rose Quartz Youth Facial Oil (£99.00 at Skinchemists) as this is currently on offer for £24.00, plus I have a discount code, so if you input TSNCBLOG at the checkout it will bring this down to £19.99 – what a bargain!

Skinchemists Youth Facial Oil is infused with a blend of hydrating, nourishing and protecting actives, to provide essential vitamins and minerals for the skin to leave the complexion illuminated, hydrated and refined. It contains Rose Otto Oil to help restore the moisture balance in the skin, Vitamin E to reduce skin damage, and Almond Oil to provide deep hydration and nourishment. The perfect product for increasing skin radiance, just 2-3 drops of this wonder oil are needed to cover the face and neck.

And what would valentine’s day be without a little tipple? Warner Edwards Rhubarb Gin Tin (£19.50 at Drink Finder) is a great choice for Valentine’s day as it tastes amazing, and it’s also pink! This gin is best served over ice and with a splash of tonic or ginger ale, to enjoy authentic British craft at its best.

And I had to include the Beauty Bakerie Lip Whip in ASOS Nude (£16.00 exclusively at ASOS) – this liquid lipstick has literally just arrived and I have to say I think I’m in love! Beauty Bakerie have two exclusive ASOS shades, one in Red and one Nude, and they dry down to a lovely matte finish that literally won’t budge all day.

Moving on to jewellery, I have these super pretty Vamp London Silver Spike Earrings (£55.00 at Browns Family Jewellers) which are Inspired by the Gothic architecture of Venice. They are from the Hidden Mask Collection, which is very 50 Shades-esque. It’s all about glamorous decadent parties, hushed whispers and intimate encounters. Considering these earrings are only £55.00, I think they’re incredibly pretty and delicate, and would make a wonderful gift.

Hopefully you can see at the back right hand side of the table, there is what looks to be a box of biscuits. But this is in fact Belgian Chocolate Biscuit Chocolates (£9.95 at Prezzybox) – these chocolates look exactly like some of your favourite biscuits. There’s jammy dodger in there, a pink wafer, and a party ring to name a few – but they’re all made of dark, milk and white belgian chocolate!

The NARS True Story Set (£35.00 exclusively at ASOS) is a stunning palette of four limited edition blushes in shades: Devotee, Myth, Unwritten, Outlaw. It also includes a Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in shade Mysterious Red, which is the perfect colour for a true red lip.

I’ve also recently been trying out some of the new Burberry Liquid Lip Velvet Lipsticks, and I’ve really been enjoying their super thick and creamy formula. I won’t go onto too much detail as I’ve already posted about them – but you can see my original review here.

For the person that has everything, what about this super sweet Silver Love Heart Trinket (£14.95 at Prezzybox) – this is an exact replica of a love heart sweet – the same size and everything, with a lovely silver plated finish. It’s a cute little keepsake gift to show someone how much you care.

This little Heart Trinket Dish (£6.95 at Prezzybox) is another fantastic bargain gift. It’s small enough to hold in the palm of your hand, and just the right size to keep small jewellery items like rings and bracelets together. The ‘Love You to the Moon and Back’ quote is a lovely touch for Valentine’s day.

Another stunning jewellery item is this Milan City Bracelet Stack (£155.00 at Annie Haak) – this super dainty stack of five sterling silver bracelets has a selection of tiny charms hanging from them, and can also be customised with an initial of your choice.

For something fun, what about this Red Face Purse (£15.00 at Emma Lomax) – this cute little fabric purse is adorned with striking lips and eyelashes, and comes in either red or pink. It’s also just the right size for carrying your cards and change.

I also wanted to include this Napoli Red Leather Journal (£32.99 at Pen Heaven) perfect for those that like to keep a written journal, or for someone that’s always writing down notes, this handmade leather jour name features a wrap-round cover, traditional gilded pages, and a heart symbol has been embossed in gold leaf in the bottom right corner, making it an ideal romantic gift.

And lastly of course, the amazing Love Carnival Light (£27.50 from Find Me a Gift) – this would make such a fun and unusual gift for someone who’s into home accessories. I love how the bright red stands out so much, and I think this is going to end up living in my conservatory 🙂

So there we have it! I hope this has given you some inspiration whether you’re buying or hoping to receive this Valentine’s day. Please also keep your eye out for my next two gift guide posts which will be coming up very soon.

I’ve just finished the final instalment of my Christmas beauty gift guides – and I think I’ve definitely saved the best till last! This guide is all about luxury fragrance, makeup and skincare, where no price is too high. I hope you enjoy!

Starting with the Benefit Blushin’ Babe Set – this limited edition palette contains five of Benefit’s famous cheek & face powders, as well as signature tips and tricks leaflet to show you how to wear them, and also a They’re Real Mascara, Eyeliner and Watt’s up highlighter. Everything in this set is in mini form, making an affordable way to try before committing to purchasing full sized products.

For fragrance, Annick Goutal Les Absolus Rose Oud EDP is a stunning luxury scent, described as a new interpretation of some the finest raw materials in perfumery – Agarwood and Turkish rose, Les Absolus Rose Oud is both a unique and sensual fragrance. The perfume combines coriander and cardamom for a spicy freshness, leading to a sensual heart of Turkish rose. Oud and incense leave a woody, mysterious and enveloping trail, rounding out this captivating scent.

Another beautiful luxury scent is Elie Saab Nuit Noor – a perfume of contrasts. Beirut, the muse behind this new fragrance, is an icon of modernity in the Middle East and a city revered for its captivating contrasts. One of these is its light – noor in Arabic – that reflects off the sea and city, to set the velvety night sky aglow. Light shines through in a honeyed bouquet of soft Rose made still more radiant by the essence of Ylang-ylang. And, to conjure the night, an accord of spicy, woody notes run throughout the composition in Black Pepper and Incense, across a majestic backdrop of Indonesian Patchouli. This scent is simply stunning!

And Serge Lutens Baptême du feu EDP – translating to Baptism of Fire, this woody scent is a wonderful unisex accord, interestingly inspired by combat. Sitting somewhere between good and evil, this is a fiery scent with addictive notes of gingerbread, powdery notes, tangerine, castoreum and osmanthus. A must try for fans of Serge Lutens.

And I had to include the stunning, Penhaligon’s Oud de Nil EDP – part of Penhaligon’s Trade Routes Collection, Oud de Nil is most definitely a tribute to Ancient Egypt in all its fragrant glory. It takes you on an olfactory cruise down the Nile, with crisp notes of grapefruit and bergamot combined with rich jasmine, oud and papyrus. Not as heavy as you’d expect, this delicate fragrance is perfect for both day and night.

Back to makeup now, with the YSL Extremely Set – this stunning palette arrives housed in a glossy red case which can be re-used after the products are gone. Inside is a beautiful make-up palette offering enough products to give a full eyes, lips and cheeks makeover – there are four eyeshadows, a highlighter, two blushers, three lip shades, a lip gloss, a mini mascara and mini brushes included.

The NARS ASOS Exclusive Orgasm Blush & Illuminator Set really needs no introduction – with Orgasm being one of the most iconic blush shades ever made, this gorgeous set contains a full sized Orgasm Blush, as well as a mini Illuminator, in striking limited edition packaging.

On to skincare now with a couple more high end treats – the 111Skin Space Anti Age Emulsion is a powerful moisturiser that aims to combat signs of ageing and keep skin hydrated, leaving you with a radiant, revitalised complexion. Enriched with vitamins to repair skin, the luxurious moisturiser promotes collagen production and contains a high concentration of hyaluronic acid to retain moisture levels and plump skin for a youthful look.

And what would luxury beauty gifting be without a high end lipstick? The YSL Rouge Pur Couture Matte Lipsticks would make fantastic Christmas gifts or stocking fillers. These beautifully packaged lipsticks promise to saturate lips with intense, stay-true colour, with medium to full coverage, and a radiant, satin finish for up to 6 hours wear.

The Nude By Nature Complexion Essentials Starter Kit is a fantastic set for those interested in trying out Nude by Nature products – which really are underrated. This set contains a selection of mini sized base products, giving you the perfect opportunity to get a feel for the brand. This beautifully presented set includes a Perfecting primer, Perfecting Concealer, Loose Powder Foundation, Loose Powder Bronzer, Translucent Loose Finishing Powder and an application brush – all housed in a leather look and rose gold case.

I just had to include the Too Faced Grande Hotel Cafe in this guide – this gorgeous set opens to reveal three Christmas coffee scented palettes – Peppermint Mocha, Gingerbread Coffee, and Eggnog Latte. Each palette contains six eyeshadows in both matte and shimmer finishes, one large face product pan (either a blush or bronzer) and the set also contains a deluxe size Better Than Sex Mascara and a step-by-step how-to Glamour Guide with three beauty looks to get you started.

And finally back to NARS again. This is the gorgeous NARS Blame It On Nars Cheek Palette – this is a stunning exclusive palette containing four cult-favorite shades: the gilded Satellite of Love Highlighter, two limited-edition provocative pinks—Day Dream and New Attitude—and the iconic burnished Casino Bronzing Powder, paired with a mini Kabuki Ita Brush and expressive keepsake palette for literally turning cheeks!

Can you believe it’s only a couple of weeks until Christmas! I really need to get my house organised – we finally have a tree – but no decorations yet! 😀 I’m also now starting to publish my gift guides, which I’m kicking off today with a beauty guide including a fantastic selection of gifts under £25.00. Enjoy!

Let’s start with the very festive looking Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish Christmas Set (£15.50) – most people will be familiar with this iconic product, as it’s literally one of the most popular cleansers ever. Did you also know it’s won over 120 awards too! This gift set contains everything you need to get super clean skin in mere minutes – there’s a 100ml tube of Cleanse & Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser, 2x Pure Muslin Cloths, and a Cleansing Guide included, all beautifully encased in a specially-designed luxury Christmas gift box that’s just perfect for gifting.

Next we have the Mini Moderns Festival of Light Candle Collection (£26.00) – Ok I know this is over £25.00, but only by a smidge so I’ve allowed it to sneak in this post! This super cute candle set contains four of Mini Moderns’ classic print designs on four wonderfully scented mini sized candles. The fragrances included are – Whitby (Sea Spray), Pavilion (Gin Fizz) Darjeeling (Tea and Fig) and Paisley Crescent (Eastern Orange Blossom).

And on to the Ted Baker Sweet Treats Gem Trio Gift Set (£22.50) – I absolutely love Ted Baker for Christmas gifts, they always come up with beautifully packaged goodies, and this Sweet Treats Gem Trio set would make either one fantastic gift, or three individual stocking fillers. Each ‘gem’ contains a travel sized Ted Baker perfume and a full sized nail polish. The fragrances included are really lovely and wearable, including Mia, Polly and Lyla scents – perfect for any girl who is constantly on the go.

Next we have the Orla Kiely Geranium Purse Spray Gift Set (£22.00) – This beautiful set from Orla Kiely includes a mini cosmetic bag and a 25ml Geranium Purse Spray, housed in a pretty, decorative gift box, with a classic Orla Kiely print.

Next, the Makeup Forever Artistic Smoky Eye Kit (£14.00) – this is a fab little gift set containing a selection of Makeup Forever minis. There’s an Excessive Lash Mascara, Aqua XL Eye Pencil in M60 (brown) and also one in M10 (black) – so you can create some gorgeous smoky eye looks this Christmas.

If lips are more your thing, the Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfector Collection (£25.40) is a definite must have. I love Clarins Instant Light Lip Perfectors, they leave your lips feeling incredibly silky smooth and nourished, with a natural tint of colour and a glossy shine. This set includes shades 01 Rose shimmer and 02 Apricot shimmer.

Moving on to fragrance, the brand new Accessorize Lovelily Perfume (£19.00) has recently caught my attention. I have to tell you I’m completely in love with this scent. It’s super feminine with notes of raspberry, orange, jasmine and sweet vanilla, and it really reminds me of my youth, I think because it’s quite a young and sweet fragrance. This scent is a fantastic bargain at only £19.00 for 75ml – if I didn’t have this already, it’d definitely be on my Christmas list this year!

Continuing with scent, another bargain fragrance is the new Monsoon Rose Gold EDP – which is currently on offer for only £19.33. Rose Gold EDP has top notes of sparkling lemon, soft fruit and ozonic scents, heart notes of velvety rose, tuberose, neroli and cyclamen, and a base of Eastern woods, vanilla, mosses, musk and balsamic amber. This is definitely worth checking out if you’re looking for a new reasonably priced fragrance.

And the Jo Malone Geranuim & Walnut Hand Cream (£22.00) – We all know Jo Malone makes some of the best and most beautifully packaged products, but if you’re looking something at the cheaper end of the spectrum, this Geranium & Walnut Hand Cream would make the perfect gift for any Jo Malone fan this Christmas, without breaking the bank. This cream has a lightweight, delicately scented formula including Apricot Kernel oil which absorbs quickly into the skin, leaving hands soft and moisturised.

Next the Pixi by Petra Rosy Radiance Palette (£19.00) – I often think Pixi makeup is quite underrated, and this palette is a very reasonably priced considering how much product is included. The Rosy Radiance Palette Rosette from Pixi is an all-in-one colour kit including an array of rose, crème and taupe hues that are able to sculpt and enhance cheeks, add a wash of colour to eyes and fill in sparse brows. The Palette Contains: 8x Eye Shades, 3x Brow Shades, 3x Face Shades and a Duo Applicator.

And lastly, the L’Occitane Delightful Floral Hand Cream Trio (£22.00) – this lovely little set would make the perfect Christmas gift for any L’Occitane fan. It contains 3x 30ml hand creams in scents Cherry Blossom, Arlésienne and Pivoine Flora – which is a real bargain at only £7.33 each!

I’d love to hear what’s top of your Christmas list this year? I hope you enjoyed my post xxx

Father’s Day has managed to sneak up on us once again, so I’ve taken the liberty of putting together a few luxury gift ideas for you. There’s some gorgeous fragrances in today’s post, skincare products and even plants – enjoy!

Starting with a gorgeous and reasonably affordable fragrance, this striking trophy shaped bottle contains Paco Rabanne’sInvictus (which is Latin for invincible) – it’s described as a fresh and sporty fragrance, representing power, dynamism and energy.

The fragrance opens with fresh grapefruit and a marine accord that leads to the heart of aromatic bay leaf and jasmine, and a woody base of guaiac wood, patchouli, oak moss and ambergris…

Top notes: Grapefruit, Mandarin Orange, and Marine Accords.

Heart notes: Bay Leaf and Jasmine.

Base notes: Guaiac Wood, Oakmoss, Patchouli and Ambergris.

Paco Rabanne Invictus is from £42.00 for 50ml EDT, and available now at Boots.

And for the discerning gent, how about the Collezione Barberie collection from Acqua Di Parma? This collection contains products, treatments and accessories created for discerning men who are meticulous with their skincare regime. Men who project their individuality and style through the perfect shave or a perfectly groomed beard.

Acqua di Parma have just expanded its Collezione Barbiere collection with three new and exclusive products – a Revitalizing Eye Serum, a Beard Serum, and a Deluxe Brush & Razor Stand –

The Revitalizing Eye Serum (£39.00 for 15ml) is the perfect product to soften and soothe the delicate skin around the eyes. Its formula reduces signs of early ageing, and this combined with the delicate massage provided by the cool steel of the roll-on dispenser ensures a fresh and relaxed look around the eye. This fresh and elegant gel has a silky texture, it’s pleasant and practical to use, and it is quickly absorbed into the skin.

And the Beard Serum (£30.00 for 30ml bottle) its formula is fluid and light, enriched with sweet almond oil and grapeseed oil extracts that act in synergy for a deep soothing action. The result is a glossy, silky and smooth beard.

You can shop the Acqua Di Parma Collezione Barbiere range at Escentual now.

And how awesome is this Beetle Trinket Tray from Amara? I love that it looks really fancy, but it actually costs only £10.00 – what a steal! Perfect for the dad that’s forever losing his keys, leaving piles of change laying around the house (like my husband does) and generally just needs a place he can put his bits and bobs.

I have a couple more gorgeous fragrances too – firstly we have Clean Reserve Smoked Vetiver. I initially received this to try myself, as I loved the sound of it, but even though this fragrance is for both men and women, I found it was too masculine for me – but my husband loves it!

Each Clean Reserve fragrance was created to be dynamic and evoke, not memories of the past, but possibilities and experiences yet to be discovered. Each is linear without much movement from top to bottom, making it ideal for layering and blending.

Smoked Vetiver has a smoky sweetness that’s fresh, inviting, and sexy. It’s light and fresh when worn alone, but can also be paired with Sueded Oud to transform it into an irresistible sensual experience.

And Van Cleef & Arpels Midnight Patchouli – this is the latest addition to the Collection Extraordinaire range, where each fragrance is dedicated to a single raw ingredient. Moonlight Patchouli is obviously based around Patchouli, which is both powerful and earthy – its scent releases a wonderful freshness that appeals to both men and women.

The fragrance opens with woody patchouli accented with cocoa, leading to a floral heart of Bulgarian rose and powdery iris. The base note reveals a suede accord, adding a leathery and fruity quality to prolong the trail…

Top Notes: Patchouli, Cocoa and Woods.

Heart Notes: Bulgarian Rose and Iris.

Base Notes: Suede, Leather and Fruit.

Interestingly, though this fragrance sounds quite feminine with the floral notes, on the skin, it actually offers woody and leathery notes for him, and a powdery floral signature for her, making it unisex in a very individual way, and therefore able to be enjoyed by everyone.

Moonlight Patchouli is £126.00 75ml EDP and currently available at Harrods.

Next, I have something a little different. I came across the brand Scentered on Space NK when I was perusing their sale earlier this year, and I noticed their Focus Therapy Balm – this is a stimulating balm to clear the head, awaken the senses and focus the mind…

Apply Focus Therapy Balm before an important meeting, event, sports match, exam, performance or whenever else you need to be mentally alert, fully present and engaged. Focus helps you adopt the right frame of mind to perform to the best of your ability.

It’s quite hard to describe the fragrance of this product, it’s quite herbal, with notes of Peppermint, Rosemary Leaf, Clary Sage, Spearmint and Bergamot, combined with a woody base of Cedarwood, Patchouli and Thyme. The product itself is a rich, nourishing balm that won’t leave your skin feeling greasy, whilst ensuring long lasting fragrance delivery. It aims to promote concentration and clarity of thought, wherever you are.

And lastly, for those that love gardening and plants – this Succulent Trio from Bloom and Wild brings a bit of greenery into the home, and requires pretty much zero effort. The Jamie Trio of Succulents contains three succulents in a bed of moss, presented in a metal tray. They just need lightly misting with water once a week (with the mister provided) and Bob’s your uncle!

The Jamie Trip is £25.00 and will be available at Bloom & Wild from Friday 10th June.

So there we have it! I hope this post has given you some inspiration for Father’s Day gifts 🙂 xxx

Mother’s day is just around the corner now, and I have some gorgeous Kate Spade gift ideas from luxury lifestyle company Amara to share with you today.

If you’re unfamiliar with Kate Spade New York, you really need to click on the link above and see what you’re missing! To sum up the brand – Kate Spade is where crisp colour and graphic prints collide with playful sophistication. It’s aesthetic is luxury crossed with quirky – which is my idea of heaven! They have a massive range of products too, covering clothing, jewellery, bags, stationery, home accessories, bedding and gifts.

When it comes to gifting, luxury stationery is always going to be a winner – and Kate Spade produce some of the most beautiful stationery products money can buy.

This Favourite Things Spiral Notebook is just wonderful, and would make the perfect gift for any stationery fan. It comes in two sizes (this is the smaller one) and I love that it’s just so colourful and fun, featuring painterly bright objects on the front, including a flamingo, ladybird and a pineapple.

If you’re looking for something slightly more unusual, what about this lovely A Stroke of Genius Pencil Cup? It’s made of high quality thick acrylic, and features a high shine gold base – you can just see engraved in the inside at the bottom it says ‘a stroke of genius’ – this is such a fun and quirky touch!

And lastly, how awesome is this Eat Cake for Breakfast Mug? Mum’s definitely deserve cake for breakfast on Mother’s day (I may have to make a few hints myself about this) and this mug is bright, cute and colourful, and I think anyone would love it.

I really can’t get enough of Kate Spade products right now – I may have to treat myself to a purse or bag next! (or maybe some more stationery?) I’d love to hear if you’re a fan?

Happy Christmas Eve! The big day is almost upon us, and today is literally your absolute final chance for picking up some last minute gifts. Personally, I think you can’t go wrong with fragrance – well you can go wrong, but fragrance in itself always makes a fantastic present.

The question is though, would she prefer an oud? Or is she more floral? Or maybe fruity? Is she a fan of tuberose? (I am!) Or musk or leather? The fact is that buying fragrance is hard. Scent is such a personal thing, it’s difficult to get it right.

I love nothing more that trying out weird and wonderful perfumes, the more niche the better, I just enjoy the experience. But if you’re looking for a fail-safe fragrance this Christmas, I’ve put together three perfumes that I personally have and love. These are all off the shelf, reasonably priced and very popular. I haven’t met a person that didn’t like them –

Starting with Jean Paul Gaultier Classique, this was one of my first ‘grown up’ fragrances. I remember checking this out in store many many years ago and I was instantly captivated. It’s an intense, sensual feminine scent, yet easy to wear. Classique has top notes of rose and rum essence, heart notes of vanilla orchid and daffodil and base notes of sweet amber, sandalwood absolute, tonka bean and velvety bourbon vanilla. This is probably one of the most distinctive off-the-shelf fragrances you’ll find.

Next is Viktor & Rolf Flower Bomb, not a new fragrance by any means, but new to my personal fragrance wardrobe. I couldn’t wait to try Flowerbomb out. I’ve been using V&R’s Bonbon for a while now as my go to day to day fragrance, so I really had high hopes for Flowerbomb – and I wasn’t disappointed. Flowerbomb contains top notes of tea and bergamot, middle notes of sambac jasmine, orchid, freesia, and rose, with a base note of patchouli. It’s a beautifully soft and sweet floral scent, it’s a pretty yet sophisticated fragrance, that’s right up there with Bonbon now as one of my daily favourites.

And lastly, the newest of the bunch, Yves Saint Laurent Black Opium. I haven’t tried the original Opium fragrance, but I picked up Black Opium about a year or so ago when it first launched, and it’s just such a stunning fragrance so I wanted to include it today. Black Opiumis warm and sweet, floral and fruity yet definitely intense and glamourous. An obvious evening scent, it oozes confidence and sensuality. Black Opium has top notes of pink pepper and orange blossom, mid notes of jasmine and coffee, and base notes of vanilla, patchouli and cedarwood.

I also wanted to use this opportunity to let you know that House of Fraser have a fantastic new offer coming up. Starting midday today and ending on 3rd Jan 2016, they will be bringing you a different beauty offer every day! Starting with 10% off all Mascaras (24th – 26th December) there will be amazing new deals coming up every day, including Eye Palettes, Serums, Moisturisers and much more. Make sure you keep an eye on the site to see which deals are on!

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About the Blog

Thou Shalt Not Covet… is a blog dedicated to my obsession with beautiful things, from fashion and make up, to lifestyle and travel. I will also be including product reviews, and anything else I want to share with the world!